pharmacognostical study, and pharmacological review of
TRANSCRIPT
Pharmacognostical Study, and Pharmacological Review of
Coccinia indica Fruit and Zea mays Leaves
Manish Gunjan 1 *, Yuvraj Singh Sarangdevot1, Bhupendra Vyas1 1 BN College of Pharmacy, Bhupal Nobles’ University,
Udaipur, Rajasthan [email protected]
Abstract Since ancient time medicinal plants are playing a vital role in the treatment of various diseases.Plants consists of several
phytoconstituents,phytochemicals which has great potential in the treatment of several disorders only thing is there is need to
explore them and transform them in the form of affordable with less side effect and more patient compliance medicine.“Plant
sources are rich with several chemical compounds,but due to so called development of modern medicines,it has been
ignored.However now a days several research is going on the medicinal plants and claimed activities,eventhough there is a
need of extensive and fruitful research work as the result may turn into safe ,affordable and efficacious drug. Keeping the
same in view this manuscript has been prepared wherein pharmmacognostical study of Coccinia indica and Zea mays or its
parts are being discussed which has several claimed activities but scientifically not proven yet,even very few
literatures/manuscript has been published claiming their antidiabetic property.Hence,this manuscript may help the
researchers in exploring the herbal medicines or the phytoconstituents which may be useful in the treatment of deadly
disorders or diseases.
Key Words: Diabetes,Phytoconstituents,pharmacognostical, C.indica, Z.mays
1. INTRODUCTION
Plants are claimed for the treatment of several diseases
from ancient time. Earliest description of curative
properties of medicinal plants is found in Rig-Veda (2500
- 1800 BC). Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita give
extensive description on various medicinal herbs. The
indigenous medicines like -Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani
based plant products in amelioration of several diseases.
Ayurvedic system of medicine is mostly based on the
treatment of diseases by using plant/its parts. This system
of medicine is one of the ancient systems which have been
practiced when there was no allopathic system. It has been
proven that photochemical present in the plants would be a
great tool for the treatment of diseases; only thing required
is to explore them dedicatedly. Now in modern era several
new diseases is a challenge for human being, and hence
there is need of exploring new drugs for treatment,
prevention and diagnosis of the same, and in this plants/
phyto constituents can play a vital role. Country like India
where more than seventy percent population rely on
agriculture and the rate of illiteracy as well as poverty is
more, there is a need of exploring efficacious but cost
effective medicines so that each and everyone can have
better treatment. Considering this in view, plants can be a
great choice. We need to explore our ancient systems on
the basis of vast research and clinical trials of the claimed
uses of plant drugs.
Allopathic treatment has several associated side or adverse
effect and therefore there is risk of late stage
complications that means a patient will have several other
painful complications throughout life and is difficult to get
rid of them in case of chronic diseases. Medicinal plants
with antidiabetic activities are therefore can play an
important and alternative role. As we know that medicinal
plant are less expensive, with less or no side effect and
hence exploration of same would be great alternative for
the treatment of such chronic diseases. Extensive research
and development efforts in this particular area is very
much required so that potent antidiabetic agents,
phytochemicals etc can be identified and thus effective
and inexpensive new drug development can take place.
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS
Collection of Plants
Drying
pH determination of powdered drugs
Pharmacognostical Studies
- Macroscopic study
- Microscopic study
Pharmacological review
3. PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDY OF Coccinia indica
Fig- 1 Coccinia indica
Botanical Name: Coccinia indica
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Synonyms: Tindora, Kowai fruit
Vernacular names: Ivy gourd, Kundru,Tindora,Kovakka
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3.1 Habitat
It is a perennial climber with single tendrils and glabrous
leaves especially found in African and Asian reasons
including India.
3.2 Description
Coccinia indica is a creeper that grows wild and also can
be cultivated; this plant is especially found in abundance
in Bengal.
Vegetable farming methods are commonly used for its
cultivation.
Leaves: Leaves are 5-10 cm, long and broad, bright green
above, paler beneath, studded and sometimes rough with
papillae, palmately 5-nerved from a cordate base, often
with circular glands between the nerves, obtusely 5-angled
or sometimes deeply 5-lobed, the lobes broad, obtuse or
acute, apiculate, more or less sinuate toothed, petioles 2 -
3.2 cm. long.
Flowers: Male flowers: Peduncles are 2 - 3.8cm. long and
subfiliform. Calyx-tube is glabrous, broadly campanulate
4 -5 mm. long. Corolla is 2.5 cm. long, veined, pubescent
inside and glabrous outside. Female flowers: Peduncles
are 1.3 - 2.5cm. long. Ovary is fusiform, glabrous and
slightly ribbed.
Fruits: The fruits of coccinia indica is green to yellowish
green and red, which has great nutritional and antidiabetic
effect. Fruits are fusiform-ellipsoid, slightly beaked, 2.5-
5by 1.3-2.5 cm. sized, marked when immature with white
streaks, bright scarlet when fully ripe.
Seeds: Seeds are ovoid and rounded at the apex, slightly
papillose, much compressed and yellowish grey.
Roots: The fresh root is thick, tuberous, long tapering,
more or less tortuous with a few fibrous rootlets attached
to it. Roots are flexible, soft and break with a fibrous
fracture. A transaction of root shows circular outline and is
characteristic of storage type. Parenchyma is full of starch
grains and thorough permeation of parenchyma with
vascular elements is observed. The cork is composed of
rows of cells.
3.3 Taxonomical Classification
Kingdom- Plantae
Subkingdom- Tracheobionta
Superdivision- Spermatophyta
Division- Magnoliophyta
Class- Dicotyledons
Subclass- Dilleniidae
Order- Violales
Family- Cucurbitaceae
Genus- Coccinia
Species- Coccinia indica
3.4 Chemical compound:
Pectin; Pectin present in the fruit of coccinia indica is
basically methyl esters of polygalacturonic acid and their
sodium, potassium, calcium, and ammonium salts.
Types of Pectin:
High methoxyl
Low methoxy
3.5 Macroscopic Study
Color- Outer surface is dark green to greenish yellow
Inner surface is yellowish pink
Odour- None
Taste- Characteristic
Shape- Oblong, Irregular
3.6 Microscopy (T.S) of Coccinia indica Fruit
T.S of Coccinia indica fruits shows:
Epicarp
Mesocarp
Endocarp
Unilocular ovary
Fig-2 T.S of Coccinia indica
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3.7 Determination of pH of powder drug (coccinia
indica)
Materıals:
1 gm powder drug
100ml distilled water
Filter paper
pH meter with standardized glass electrode
Method:
1gm of accurately weighed drug was heated with 100ml of
distilled water and filtered. pH of the filtrate was checked
with a pH meter having standardized glass electrode.
The pH of the filtrate was found to be 5.54
4. PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDY OF Zea Mays
Fig-3 Zea mays
Botanical Name: Zea mays
Family: Poaceae
Synonyms: Corn, Maize,Indian corn
Vernacular Names: Makai, Bhutta,Makka cholam,Mokka
Jovanalu
4.1 Habitat
It is grown during April or early May, Zea mays can
grown in light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay)
soils. Although, it can thrive in many different types of
soils it requires that the soils are well-drained especially
found in United states, China, Argentina, Brazil, France,
Mexico, and Romania, including India
4.2 Description
Maize, Zea mays, is an annual grass in the family Poaceae
and is a staple food crop grown all over the world.
Stem: The maize plant possesses a simple stem of nodes
and internodes.
Leaves: A pair of large leaves extend off of each
internode and the leaves total 8–21 per plant. The leaves
are linear or lanceolate (lance-like) with an obvious midrib
(primary vein) and can grow from 30 to 100 cm (11.8–
39.4 in) in length.
Flowers: The male and female inflorescences (flower
bearing region of the plant) are positioned separately on
the plant. The male inflorescence is known as the 'tassel'
while the female inflorescence is the 'ear'. The ear of the
maize is a modified spike and there may be 1–3 per plant.
Maize Grains: The maize grains, or 'kernels', are encased
in husks and total 30–1000 per year. The kernels can be
white, yellow, red, purple or black
4.3 Taxonomical Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: Commelinidae
Order: Cyperales
Family: Poaceae
Genus-: Zea
Species: Zea mays
4.4 Chemical Constituent:
Phenols,
Flavan-3-Ol,
Steroids,
Flavanones,
Proanthocyanins And
Resveratrol
4.5 Macroscopy of Zea mays Leaf
Color- Green, yellowish green
Odour- Foul
Taste- Characteristic
Shape- Broad, Long
Arrangements-Alternate, in two vertical rows on the
opposite side of the axis
4.6 Microscopy (T.S) of Zea mays Leaf
A transverse section shows:-
Spongy Mesophyll
Upper epidermis
Phloem
Lower cuticle
Xylem
Lower epidermis
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337
Fig-4 T.S of Zea mays leaf
4.7 Determination of pH of powder drug (zea mays)
Materıals:
1 gm powder drug
100ml distilled water
Filter paper
pH meter with standardized glass electrode
Method:
1gm of accurately weighed drug was heated with 100ml of
distilled water and filtered. pH of the filtrate was checked
with a pH meter having standardized glass electrode.
The pH of the filtrate was found to be 6.12
5. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF Coccinia indica and Zea mays
Table-1 Pharmacological activity of Coccinia indica and Zea mays
Plant Name Pharmacological Activity Reference
Coccinia indica
Anti inflammatory, anti pyretic and analgesic activity of fruits and
leaves.
Leaves are in use for the treatment of several ailments such as
wound healing, ulcers, fever, asthma, hepatoprtotective, antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic,
antibacterial and antitussive activities
[1]
Hypoglycemic activity of coccinia indica leaves, [2],[3],[4]
Antibacterial [5]
Anthelmintic activity [6]
Potential for controlling An. stephensi mosquito [7]
Zea mays
Edema, cystitis, gout, nephritis, kidney stones, obesity, as well as
prostatitis and similar ailments [8]
Corn silk possesses hypoglycemic, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-
fatigue and anti-fungal properties [9]
Antioxidant [10]
Anti-prostatitis and antispasmodic [11]
Diuretic and a decoction of the silk is taken for the treatment of
urinary troubles and gallstones [12]
Antihyperlipidemic [13]
Anti-obesity [14]
Antidiabetic [15],[16]
Anti tumor,Anti cancer [17]
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338
RESULTS & DİSCUSSİON
The pharmacognostical studies has been done which is till
date not published in any literatures especially the
microscopic study and pH has not been estimated.The
results has been noted and the figure has been illustrated
with the help of microscope. The review of
pharmacological activities of chosen plants shows that
they are having several pharmacological activities which
needs to be explored for the benifit of mankind.The
phytochemicals present in these plants has potent
antidiabetic effect,and if the phytoconstituents for this
activity would be identified and turned into medicine will
be of great value in terms of efficacy, cost effective and
safety.
CONCLUSİON
Since ancient times, plants have been an exemplary source
of medicine. Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention
the use of plants in treatment of various human ailments.
India has about 45 000 plant species and among them,
several thousands have been claimed to possess medicinal
properties. Research conducted in last few decades on
plants mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally
for the treatment of various ailments has as shown great
potential of exploration of phytoconstiuents for the
treatment of various diseases.
Natural products compounds discovered from medicinal
plants (and their analogues thereof) have provided
numerous clinically useful drugs and still remain as an
essential component in the search for new medicines. So,
these traditionally used plants can be exploited effectively
in order to find new chemical entity as an alternative and
safe treatment of diseases sepecially for chronic diseases.
Pharmacognostical profile of the plants chosen in this
research has not been discussed yet in any literatures, and
hence these information may help the reasearcher in
further study.
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